Strange thought-declaw dogs
 

No not dew claw removal all claws.

Okay how about just the front ones now that I think about it more, like they do to cats I think it's just the front ones.
The back are used for itching themselves, that's even indoor pet functionally needed, right?


So here's the deal I was reading and commented on the thread about nail caps which are just that: plastic soft caps that cover nails.

They are used for several reason:

to protect the nail

to protect skin from nails; both people and dogs

to protect furniture and floors

strictly cosmetic

So I was being sarcastic on the thread about just declawing the dog and I'll be honest I thought of the great frustration with Scoobers, it's a bit different it is genuinely very psychologically stressing on him he has to be safely semi sedated for his nails being trimmed & often his ears being cleaned ( we use rescue remedy & mello mut). He is a rescue that came equip with some issues he may never overcome.

If cat's get declawed why not dogs-apparently it has been done to dogs before.

What makes it so fundamentally different to declaw a cat and not a dog?

Apparently some vet somewhere did it (I really hope it was a vet in a humane procedure-yikes) I'd assume it wasn't like dew claw removal but more like declawing a cat where they take a nap and wake up to the best pain meds one can afford glued skin etc.

Yes I know I'm opening a sensitive controversial topic here and yes I am playing devils advy admittedly but I'm genuinely curious on weather you all are just shocked thinking it's wrong, think there's a functionality to it, other reasoning I haven't thought of etc.

Honestly is it that different from docket tails dew claws removed ears cropped?

Oh, and no, I am not getting my Scoobers declawed.

I don't think it's even widely available-although I may just call and ask my vet if they have ever even heard of it or if they do it.

My groomer is a vet tech she never mentioned it but suggested the nail covers.

If cat's get declawed why not dogs-apparently it has been done to dogs before.

Yes, I Googled it out of curiosity.

It's awful to do it to cats so I would assume it's equally horrible to do to any animal. I wouldn't declaw anything no matter what. I know you are just debating. I'm just saying that declawing a cat is the equivalent of chopping off the tips of your own fingers. It's not okay. So I think it's not okay for any animal.... dogs, cats, etc. Whatever. Just say no to declawing all together. ;) (For what it's worth, some cats have residual pain from declawing for the rest of their lives.)

Personally, I probably wouldn't dock a dogs tail, ears or remove their dewclaws either. Cody came with his tail docked and dewclaws removed so that's that. But if anyone had asked, I would have left it all intact for him. But that's just me. I do feel a little better about it since he clearly has no residual pain from either of those procedures.

Well I have declawed cats before so I do see the reasoning in that because cats use their claws to destroy furniture and things. Dogs dont use their claws for the same purpose as cats so I dont see the purpose in it. Now after hearing the pain cats go through with declawing Im not so sure Im even for that anymore and the cats I have now are not declawed.

I asked my vet about this since my cairn hates and I mean hates her nails clipped. He said no way it is not the same as a cat. Something about the way the dogs paws are used. And said it would not be a good option.. So I do not think they do this...

Never heard of it being done to a dog. They don't use their claws the way cats do anyway.

If they did it and if I had a dog that was being extremely destructive with their claws, I would do it (fronts only). I would do a cat too. Everybody has their opinions on what is right or wrong. IMO, it's okay to do it and I don't see me having a cat without doing it.

A coworker had her cat declawed and it limped for about 6 mos. and then it stopped limping and seemed okay, though she said it cried to get outside seemingly more after that. Don't know if she just had a bad vet or this is somewhat typical.

No thats not typical Ive had cats declawed in the past and they seem to go through it just fine

I'm seriously not passing judgement on anyone. I just want that to be clear. I don't want to be mean or anything or for people to feel like I'm passing judgement or being harsh. Totally not my intention. Just putting that out there.

However, it's not abnormal for cats to have residual pain after a declawing. Some cats never recover. Often you'll see rescues will recoomend you use clumping litter for declawed cats simply because it's softer and easier on their paws.

I understand the resons for declawing, I truly do. However, I also know that the folks here are animal lovers. So I guess I have a hard time understanding why with all the love and care you take with your pups, that you wouldn't invest similar love and care in training your cats. I have two cats with claws and they never destroy furniture or anything else. I make sure they have appropriate things to claw on and train them that those are the appropriate outlets for that behavior. I have never had a moment's worth of trouble with it.

Just like none of us would ever adopt a dog without being willing and able to provide the proper home and training for them, I feel cats deserve exactly that as well. There's no need to declaw... just simple love and training will do the trick. And, if there's a serious problem that you just can't overcome, the nail caps being disucussed here and on another thread can be applied at home and will keep the cat from doing any damage.

There is absolutely no health reason for declawing a cat, and in fact many health reasons not to. It's not a minor medical procedure either... those claws are the equivalent of our fingers. Again, I'm not judging the choices anyone has made. I'm just offering up an explanation for my feelings.

I dont think your judging and I understand why you have your view on it. My views on it have evolved. The last time I had a cat declawed was about 15 yrs ago so its been a while. I still knowing the reasons I did it then I dont judge someone if they do it now. I have 5 cats now and none are declawed. I only have one that scratches on furniture and Im working with her on that

:thumbup::thumbup: Great answer. I completely agree with you! We have two cats and have had no problems with them scratching the furniture. I believe it is a cruel procedure and would never have it done on any of my animals. The procedure includes cutting off the tips of their fingers to keep the nail from growing back, and it is not necessary. Like you said, cats need training as well, and scratching can be prevented by providing scratching posts.

I don't see any point in declawing a dog :(

I am also against declawing any creature. It's pretty rude to think we can have such control over an animal like that...but then again we do remove dew claws, crop ears and tails. I'm really not a fan of all that either.

I remember sitting in my living room years ago and then hearing a gawd awful scream from the neighbors dog. Well, I look out the second floor window and the guy was cutting the ears of his pit bull with a pair of scissors. I called the police and the dog was removed from the house...thankfully. Poor thing...just another way that some people think they "own" an animal to the point they can cause it great pain.

When I had cats I put those soft claws on them and that was so simple, painless and humane.

I couldn't imagine the pain a dog would have with it's nails removed, they need them for so many reasons. I would actually cry if I saw a dog that had that done to it. I can't even see how they would walk correctly either....

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

Now Im not trying to be rude just debating the subject. I can understand you having your views but it didnt stop you from buying from a breeder that docks tails either. I dont see any difference in pain level from declawing a cat to docking a pups tail just saying....

I said I am not a fan of cropping ears and cutting tails, not that I think it shouldn't be done.

But I do think declawing any animal is wrong and performing your own surgery with a pair of scissors in the back yard of your house is absolutely insane.

I've had rotties and now a yorkie, I understand why the tails and dewclaws are done.

While I was recently in the hospital twice, Tibbe's nails grew out a bit too long and I was having trouble getting them short enough using the Petipaws or whatever it is called. I called the vets office and asked them to quick the nails while he was under anesthesia. They refused, explaining that doing that causes the nails to be sore and can continue to hurt after the clipping. I fussed about it a bit and thanked them and hung up. Then I got to thinking, when I cut my nail very very short, into the quick, it is quite sore for a long, long time and often I have to put a bandaid over it until it grows out. I felt pretty contrite. So, they clipped Tibbe's nails very short but not into the quick and I feel good about it and know my vet wouldn't do something just for money that might be a problem for my dog.

So I know nails and nailbeds and quicks are very tender areas and likely declawing for cats is a problem but if they are tearing up your house, wonder what else can be done other than declawing? I don't know of anything as effective.